Chance Young Death Ruled an Accident

Published on August 24 2012 12:12 pm
Last Updated on July 14 2013 12:07 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham County Coroner's Office has listed the June 27 death of Chance Young of Flora as an accident.

A release from the Coroner's Office indicated the 18-year-old's death was due to multiple blunt traumatic injuries.

The report from the Coroner's Office states that Young was driving a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed that left the roadway, went airborne 105 feet and struck a creek embankment.

Toxicology studies found no prescription or recreational drugs or alcohol in Young's system at the time of his death. However, 1.1-Difluoroethane (DFE), a chemical used in huffing was found in his blood work and is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash. The report said Young was known to be huffing this chemical the evening before his death and, based on the concentration in his blood, had likely huffed again hours prior to the crash.

A synonym for Freon 152, DFE is a colorless and odorless gas that is used as a non-ozone depleting propellant found in many commonly-used consumer products and electronic cleaners. It may also be found as a refrigerant and chemical intermediate. DFE has been recognized as a substance of abuse that can lead to serious injury and death. Like other fluorinated hydrocarbons, inhalation of DFE may result in a feeling of light-headedness and disorientation; however, in higher concentrations abuse may lead to cardiac dysrhythmias and sudden death.

Chance Young's brother, 16-year-old Mason Young, died of injuries received in the crash several days later.